Former F1 driver Robert Kubica has confirmed that Maciej Sꦡzczepaniak will act as his co-driver this season in the 2014 FIA World Rally Champio꧙nship.

Kubica and Szczepaniak teamed up for the first time last weekend in Austria, and the duo immediately got off to a good start, winning the event, the opening round of the European Rally Championship season, by 19.9 seconds [see separate story - HERE].

Kubica was using the Jannerrallye as a warm-up for Rallye Monte Carlo, the first event in the WRC, and his first in his Lotos-supported M-Sport Ford Fiesta RS WRC car. The 29-year-old will do all 13 WRC rallies in𝓀 2014 as he steps up to the top level of rallying.

Kubica split with🗹 regular co-driver Maciek Baran at the end of last year, with Michele Ferrara drafted in for Wales Rally GB, what was the Pole's first outing in𓄧 a current generation WRC car.

"I'm not going to get into the details, but Maciek told me he wanted to stop after Rally de Espana," Kubica explained back in November after 💟clinching the WRC2 title. "I don't want to force anyone to drive wi🐭th me, so I looked for the best alternative solution for this final rally of the season.

"Michele isn't any more experienced than me, but he is very motivat🥀ed for us to do well together. Although I have spoken Italian since I was very young, it won'ꦚt be easy to switch languages, especially as I have made extensive changes to my pace notes system this season."

Szczepaniak previously co-drove for fellow Pole, Michal Kosciuszko - a ওpartnership that had spanned some seven years.